46 USC § 8503 - Federal pilots authorized

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s8503"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 8503 - Federal pilots authorized"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "8503"
section_name: "Federal pilots authorized"
chapter_number: 85
chapter_name: "PILOTS"
part_number: "F"
part_name: "Manning of Vessels"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 98–557, § 29(f)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2874; amended Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4302(h), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 539; Pub. L. 105–383, title III, § 301(b)(8), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3417; Pub. L. 116–260, div. AA, title V, § 512(c)(6)(C), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2757.)"
---


# § 8503. Federal pilots authorized

**(a)** The Secretary may require a pilot licensed under section 7101 of this title on a self-propelled vessel when a pilot is not required by State law and the vessel is—

**(1)** engaged in foreign commerce; and

**(2)** operating—

**(A)** in internal waters of the United States; or

**(B)** within 3 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured.

**(b)** A requirement prescribed under subsection (a) of this section is terminated when the State having jurisdiction over the area involved—

**(1)** establishes a requirement for a State licensed pilot; and

**(2)** notifies the Secretary of that fact.

**(c)** For the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Secretary may not delegate the authority under this section to an agency except the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

**(d)** A person violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.

**(e)** A person that knowingly violates this section or a regulation prescribed under this section commits a class D felony.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 98–557, § 29(f)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2874; amended Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4302(h), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 539; Pub. L. 105–383, title III, § 301(b)(8), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3417; Pub. L. 116–260, div. AA, title V, § 512(c)(6)(C), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2757.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (c).  substituted “Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation” for “Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation”.

1998—Subsec. (a)(2).  added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “operating on the navigable waters of the United States.”

1990—Subsec. (e).  substituted “commits a class D felony” for “shall be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned for not more than five years, or both”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable to incidents occurring after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Navigation and Navigable Waters.

## Executive Documents

### Territorial Sea of United States

For extension of territorial sea of United States, see Proc. No. 5928, set out as a note under , Public Lands.